Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

In the afternoon, a few young people had just been sent away by Little Priskin.

Late at night, three leaders of the Maplestone City merchants and guildsmen—Mikesh Kelamin, Besse Jurgi, and Gwadani Yurof—came together to visit.

As soon as he saw this lineup, Little Priskin understood that his Civil Guard Officer had not only won but had achieved a resounding victory.

Otherwise, the other party wouldn't be so eager to come, without even the thought of bargaining.

Secretly cheering three times in his heart for Lord Blood Wolf, Little Priskin stepped onto the carriage path and welcomed the three elders through the front door.

This time, the meeting place was no longer a simple dark room, but a bright and clean living room.

After brief pleasantries, the three leaders of the Maplestone City guilds went straight to the point and plainly stated their purpose:

They hoped Blood Wolf could represent them in negotiating with Colonel Gaisa, Colonel Skool, and Lieutenant Colonel Magash of Riverside County…

Mr. Mikesh paused, then slowly expressed the embarrassing reason: "To resolve misunderstandings and avoid mistaken… reckoning."

Then, the three began to describe the compensation they could offer.

Little Priskin nodded continuously, seemingly listening attentively, but in truth, a bold idea was sprouting in his mind.

After weighing down one side of the scale, the three guild leaders prepared to take their leave—they did not consider Little Priskin worthy of bargaining, merely viewing him as a courier.

But this courier voiced his own opinions.

"May I ask, Mr. Mikesh, Mr. Besse, Mr. Gwadani." Little Priskin politely inquired: "Why don't you take this offer directly to Colonel Gaisa, Colonel Skool, and Lieutenant Colonel Magash yourselves?"

The three leaders of the Maplestone City guilds exchanged imperceptible glances and did not immediately respond.

"Because it's not enough, right?" Little Priskin asked and answered himself: "Others may not know, but I understand well. In the eyes of those with great power, we merchants are nothing… Having just experienced a major battle, the garrison troops in each county urgently need to raise military resources to offset their losses. Maplestone City is the plump, juicy prize in their eyes, and the Newly Reclaimed Land no longer has the strength to defy them."

At this point, including Little Priskin himself, the expressions of several people darkened slightly.

"Moreover." Little Priskin changed the topic, his tone carrying a hint of coldness: "The so-called misunderstanding is likely not a misunderstanding at all; the so-called mistaken reckoning probably isn't mistaken either."

Little Priskin extended his finger and began to list things one by one: "The Maple Fort massacre— you let the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army into the city; after the massacre, it was you who appeased the city residents; when the pseudo-army attacked Mirror Lake County, you defended the city for the Pseudo-Government Army; until the Allied Forces of the Four Counties passed through and gave you the final chance to surrender, and yet you turned a blind eye."

"We…" Mikesh's defense was feeble: "We also had no choice."

"I know. But Colonel Gaisa needs only an excuse to settle accounts with you." Little Priskin's body language appeared as the weaker side, yet his words were as sharp as knives: "Nevertheless, your ships transported supplies for Sanel, your provided militia helped Sanel hold Maplestone City—these things are concrete."

Little Priskin pressed his advantage: "Besides, you should know what kind of person Colonel Gaisa is—that's the kind of guy who can squeeze water from a stone. Do you believe that if Colonel Gaisa only confiscates the homes of half the people, the remaining half would still applaud?"

If old Mikesh still didn't understand, then it could only be because he was deaf.

He lightly coughed and hinted: "Please tell us directly, Mr. Priskin, what exactly do you want us to do?"

What Mikesh didn't expect was that the young man before him gave an unexpected answer: "I don't want you gentlemen to do anything, I just advise you—not to hold on to any illusions."

Next, Mr. Priskin, representing the interests of the Rebels of Iron Peak County, instead began to analyze the pros and cons for the wealthy merchants of Maplestone City from their perspective:

"You are bribing Montaigne's Civil Guard Officer, ultimately, for Montaigne's Civil Guard Officer's military protection. But please think about it, can a saber in someone else's hand really be trusted? Only a saber in your own hand can ever be reliable—I'm telling you, if you wish to protect your property and life, there is only one way: hold onto Maplestone City!"

"If you intend to surrender from the start, Gaisa will leave you with nothing; if you can hold onto Maplestone City and prevent Gaisa and Skool from breaking in, then they will have no choice but to accept your surrender; if you can defeat Gaisa's troops, then not only will you not need to surrender, but Maplestone City itself will not be plundered." Little Priskin's eyes sparkled: "And if you defeat all the Allied Forces of the Four Counties, then not to mention Maplestone City, the Newly Reclaimed Land will be yours!"

"We who represent members of various guilds are honest and decent citizens." Old Mikesh coughed again: "We do not know how to fight, nor do we wish to fight."

"Then…" Little Priskin's expression became solemn, his words earnest: "You must find someone who can fight for you."